Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-9
Safety Belts
.............................................1-11
Child Restraints
.......................................1-31
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-62
Restraint System Check
............................1-75
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-12
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-14
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-17
Mirrors
....................................................2-37
OnStar
®System
......................................2-42
Storage Areas
.........................................2-44
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-2
Climate Controls
......................................3-12
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-15
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-30
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-36Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
........ 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-44
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Rear Axle
...............................................5-48
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-48
Front Axle
...............................................5-49
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-55
Tires
......................................................5-57
Appearance Care
.....................................5-94
Vehicle Identi cation
...............................5-102
Electrical System
....................................5-103
Capacities and Speci cations
...................5-107
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-11
Index.................................................................1
2004 Chevrolet Colorado Owner ManualM
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra
wiring and a heavy-duty turn signal asher.
The arrows on your instrument panel will ash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also ash, telling other drivers
you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at normal altitudes. If you turn your
engine off immediately after towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the
engine run while parked (preferably on level ground)
with the automatic transmission in PARK (P) (or
the manual transmission out of gear and the parking
brake applied) for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. If you do get the overheat warning,
seeEngine Overheating on page 5-28.
4-67
Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Speci cations....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-19
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-22
Hydraulic Clutch (Manual Transmission)...........5-24
Engine Coolant.............................................5-25
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-28Engine Overheating.......................................5-28
Cooling System............................................5-30
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-36
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-36
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-37
Brakes........................................................5-39
Battery........................................................5-42
Jump Starting...............................................5-43
Rear Axle.......................................................5-48
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-48
Front Axle......................................................5-49
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-50
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-50
Headlamps..................................................5-50
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps.........................................5-52
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-53
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-53
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-54
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-55
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1
What to Use
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12
to determine what kind of lubricant to use.
Bulb Replacement
SeeReplacement Bulbs on page 5-54for the proper
types of bulbs to use. For any bulb changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact your dealer’s
service department.
Halogen Bulbs
{CAUTION:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
Headlamps
Composite Headlamp System
A. Low-Beam Headlamp
B. High-Beam Headlamp
To replace the bulbs, do the following:
1. Open and support the hood. SeeHood Release
on page 5-11.
2. Access the bulb/sockets from the
engine compartment.
5-50
3. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and pull it
straight out of the headlamp housing.
4. Unplug the electrical connector from the old bulb.
5. Plug in the electrical connector to the new bulb. Use
care not to touch the new bulb with your bare hand
or anything damp or oily.
6. Place the connector with the new bulb into the
headlamp housing and turn it clockwise until it
is tight.
Sealed Beam Headlamps
To replace the headlamp capsule, do the following:
1. Remove the four retainer screws and the retainer.
2. Pull the headlamp capsule toward you and
unplug the electrical connector.
3. Plug the electrical connector into the new
headlamp capsule.
4. Reverse Steps 1 and 2 to reinstall the headlamp.
5-51
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Daytime Running Lamps
1. Remove the turn signal/parking lamp/daytime
running lamp (DRL) assembly by pressing on the
release clip on the outboard side of the housing and
pulling the outboard end of the lamp toward you.
2. Pull the inboard side of the lamp out from the small
post in the grille.
3. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and remove
it from the lamp housing.
4. Remove the old bulb from the bulb socket.5. Insert the new bulb into the bulb socket.
6. Insert the bulb socket into the lamp housing and
turn it clockwise until it is tight.
7. Place the inboard end of the turn signal/parking
lamp/DRL housing over the small post in
the grille.
8. Align the release clip of the lamp assembly with the
square opening in the grille, and push the outboard
side of the lamp assembly in, until the release
clip snaps into place.
5-52
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)
1. Remove the screws and lift off the lamp assembly.
2. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and
remove it from the housing.
3. Pull the bulb straight out of the socket.
4. Insert the new bulb into the socket and press it in
until tight.
5. Insert the bulb socket into the housing and turn
until tight.
6. Reinstall the lamp assembly and tighten the screws.
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps
1. Open the tailgate. SeeTailgate on page 2-10.
2. Remove the two rear
lamp assembly screws
near the tailgate
latch and pull out the
lamp assembly.
5-53
A. Stoplamp/Taillamp
B. Turn Signal
C. Back-up Lamp
3. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove it
from the taillamp housing.
4. Pull the old bulb straight out from the socket.
5. Press a new bulb into the socket and turn the socket
clockwise into the taillamp housing until it is tight.
6. Reinstall the rear lamp assembly and tighten
the screws.
7. Close the tailgate.Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb Number
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)912
Headlamps, Composite
Low-Beam
High-Beam9006
9005
Headlamps, Sealed-Beam H6054
Park/ Front Turn Signal/Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL)3757A
Parking Lamps (Inboard) 3157A
Stoplamps, Rear Turn Signals,
Taillamps, and Back-Up Lamps3057
For any bulb not listed here, contact your dealer.
5-54